Former New Zealand rugby league international Shontayne Hape will make his test debut at inside center among six changes to the team which played France in the last round of the Six Nations championship.

Hape, 29, played 14 rugby league tests for New Zealand and becomes the third former Kiwi league international to play international rugby league for England after Henry Paul and Lesley Vainikolo.

“I have been very impressed with him. He’s a very smart carrier with the ball in hand. He’s one of those guys that seems to have a bit more time than most, he’s very composed,” England manager Martin Johnson said.

Hooker Steve Thompson and lock Tom Palmer will both start on Saturday after coming off the bench in England’s most recent test in Paris. Leicester flanker Tom Croft also returns to the England starting line.

Jonny Wilkinson, hero of England’s 2003 World Cup victory in Australia, has been named on the bench, allowing Toby Flood to start in the No. 10 jersey while Danny Care will play at scrumhalf.

Leicester hooker George Chuter and Northampton lock Courtney Lawes have both been included on the bench.

Lewis Moody will captain England who last beat the Wallabies on Australian soil in the 2003 World Cup final.

ENGLAND

15 Ben Foden (Northampton Saints) , 14 Mark Cueto (Sale Sharks) , 13 Mike Tindall (Gloucester Rugby) , *12 Shontayne Hape (Bath Rugby) , 11 Chris Ashton (Northampton Saints) , 10 Toby Flood (Leicester Tigers) , 9 Danny Care (Harlequins) , 1 Tim Payne (London Wasps) , 2 Steve Thompson (CA Brive) , 3 Dan Cole (Leicester Tigers) , 4 Simon Shaw (London Wasps) , 5 Tom Palmer (Stade Francais) , 6 Tom Croft (Leicester Tigers) , 7 Lewis Moody (Leicester Tigers) CAPTAIN , 8 Nick Easter (Harlequins)

Replacements ;16 George Chuter (Leicester Tigers) , 17 David Wilson (Bath Rugby) , 18 Courtney Lawes (Northampton Saints) , 19 James Haskell (Stade Francais) , 20 Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers) , 21 Jonny Wilkinson (RC Toulon) , 22 Mathew Tait (Sale Sharks)

*New cap